The Nicest Things About: India

The Nicest Things About: India

- Food.A staggering variety of tasty, nutritious range of food for all seasons from all the parts of the country. Something to suit all tastes, preferences - vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Delectable dishes that are visually tantalising, mouth-watering, a gorgeous riot of smells and tastes that tickle not just your tastebuds and make them dance, but your whole body is brought alive and feels thankful to be alive, just to experience the joy of eating as one of joys of living. Not all Indian food is hot, spicy, deep-fried and burns its way down your digestive system as some might believe after eating at an Indian restaurant that features all the 'highlights' dishes of various parts of India. You can have the most subtle or strong tastes of good, wholesome and delicious food in Indian homes or feasts during marriages or special occasions. There is food for different seasons, food for different reasons, food for different illness, for different wellness!

I will not list them, too many to do so. You can spend an entire year, three meals and a snack everyday in India, without repeating any dish.... This is a culture that has developed food such that  it can be a spiritual experience to eat.

- MusicOne of the most ancient cultures to scientifically and thoroughly develop music- from the basic theory to the most advanced forms of it, requiring the highest skills. Music that can move you, your soul and apparently even move inanimate objects. The rich variety of music, the lyrics, and the chants, many inspired by the highest and most noblest of human spirit, can transport you to another dimension - one that can only be experienced, not seen or described. There is music for all moods, all emotions and feelings. Indians do not choose music to suit their moods, they will listen to any music and get into its mood and thoroughly enjoy it. One can listen to soul stirring music from the simplest voice, the simplest instruments to the most sophisticated instruments designed by man. The effect of a beautiful thought, a brilliant phrase, an apt voice in bringing out such a profound sound that will convey a story of a thousand words in just a second, through the slightest inflexion. It is just magic. Even the so-called 'corrupted' westernised pop/rock imitations in India cannot hide or take away the strong influence of classical Indian music. There is music for every feeling, every season, every reason, every occasion, from every corner of the country. It is a lot like the food, it will treat your whole being from the body to the innermost depths of the soul. This is a culture that has developed music as a spiritual experience.

- SpiritualityYou might have noticed that I have used the word 'spirit' a lot until now, even when writing about food or music in India. You cannot write anything about India or about anything from India without referring to a 'spirit'. Growing up as a young, rebellious, atheist young teenager, I used to wonder what was the big deal that grown-ups around me used to talk about India being a spiritual home to the world and that so many seekers from the world over used to come to India to find their own spirit! I used to think it is all bunkum. It slowly dawned on me as I grew up and was living outside India. Yes, India is a special place, mostly because of this - this is one culture where ANYone, from ANYwhere is accepted whole heartedly and can feel at home when following ANY path to spiritual wisdom or experience. Anyone's method or religion gets equal respect and an equal footing in the mind of an Indian who understands his own culture. It is the grand unification theory in practice - there is divinity and it is accepted in all people, in all creatures and in all creation.

This has soaked so much into the culture that one cannot rub it out, despite seeing many hypocrites, many crooks and corruption. In India, in the remotest corner, any brand of religion welcomed on an equal footing by common folk who might not speak your language or know where you come from, but will immediately and sincerely join you in your prayer, next to you. Even if they imperfectly mimic your words, they perfectly mimic your spirit. Every religion is assimilated into the mainstream in India. It has been like this for thousands of years. With already a million deities that they pray to, an additional one is not an issue. India has an idea that divinity or god is really 'godliness' - a living principle or law of nature. It is like gravity, found everywhere in diverse beings and creations. So, anywhere one spots 'divinity' is equally holy or sacred to any other place. So, they acknowledge it by praying or a salute. Anyone exhibiting 'divinity' is divine and worthy of worship. Any situation that brings out the best in human spirit and the noblest thoughts and feelings is divine. One can see this if one is tuned to seeking something most fulfilling in human life. That is why seekers from anywhere in the world can find it in India. The best meaning of the word 'divine' as I can glean from India is this "good and just".

I am often reminded of this by a quote from Hu Shih, former Ambassador of China to USA: "India conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border." This is the only way India can rule any place, not by occupation, but by inspiration.



Copyright  (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2013
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